By Juvy Carmenotes

Hello, my name is Ms. Juvy Carmenotes, I am an Arc welder in the Philippines. I love doing DIY stuff at home. Not only welding, but also some basic work like carpentry, electrical, plumbing and painting. Sometimes even masonry. I really do love man’s work; I felt like it’s my passion and what I want to do in my life. But I’m not good enough to do those kinds of works so I need more training. 

One day my Partner Dave and I are planning to have our own Training Center for my fellow women. I would like to empower them and give them some hope that we are not just women! We are women! Everyone deserves to have a better life, not only for ourselves but also for our family. I would love to share my thoughts and knowledge with them. Especially those who are being abused.

We already made some plans for our future training center but the BIG question was how can I make it possible? Who, Where and Why?  So, then that’s how Tradeswomen Building Bridges came to my life. My partner did some research about women’s construction in the Philippines, and he found TBBs site. It was perfect timing that they were coming to visit the Philippines in order to empower women and share their unique skills.  I messaged the TBB facebook page and got an answer from them. They connected me to AWWCI who organized the event to make it happen. 

First, I would like to thank the AWWCI organization for letting me join the 5 days training with TBB delegates. I live 4 hours away from Manila and they even gave me a free accommodation. Thanks to Ms. Jane Vargas and Ms. Mheanne  Vargas. Thank you so much for your advocacy and for letting us know about women’s rights.

Big thanks to those TBB trainer Ms. Kristine Byers for teaching us, how to build our own shelves with a towel rack. Now I fully understand how to do proper measuring, which is my number one concern, because I am really not good at it. With a wrong measurement everything else goes wrong. I learned proper wood cutting using a saw and some electric tools with safety precautions. She made sure everyone was wearing their PPE, and made sure that everyone fully understood the importance of work ethic. Thank you for sharing some techniques to make our job easier and faster with good quality.  Now I am more confident to continue my pending carpentry work at home.

Big thanks as well to our plumber instructor Ms. Doreen Cannon, your passion in training also amazed me, its like Wow! I can’t even imagine that a woman plumber really exists, because I am only familiar with a woman welder, electricians etc. haven’t met someone like you. I am so glad to be your student. It is really a big shot for me to be trained by an international trainer. Sometimes I felt overwhelmed as everyone noticed lol! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us. I’ve learned a lot from you in a very short period of time. I have learned how to join the pipes together and make sure they are even so the water can run properly.  I have learned that some water pipes must be elevated properly with a proper measure of heights. Thanks for sharing the techniques on how to level those pipes together. It is really a big help for me and for the other students. Now I understand why the pipes clog and I understand how the toilet flush functions. I can fix it in case there is a minor problem.  Basic knowledge in plumbing is a big help for me. It will help me to save my pennies. I don’t need to spend on a plumber for the basic problems. I wish we could do more training in the future so we can learn more about plumbing. Honestly, for me it is a more complicated job and I need more time to learn more.

Thank you both for your long patience and putting your heart in it. Your hard work is much appreciated. 

Of course, big thanks to the rest of the delegates, Noreen Buckley, Angel Anderson, Lori Griffith, Myra Hildreth, Amanda Kay Johnson, Cassandra Klewicki, Casey Aelbers, Diana Limon, Rachel Cloutier and Ms. Tanya. Without you guys our training would be more complicated. Thank you so much for your guidance and assistance. You worked with every one of us to make our projects possible and made sure it was a quality output. Assisting us one by one is not easy but you put your heart and effort into it and made sure we all could understand what we were doing. Every one of you has a different spice lol!  All of you were so very kind and good human beings Thank you all for the laughter and tears that we shared in a week. 

I feel like we’ve known each other for a very long time, especially my fellow students. I am so grateful to know you all. I did not know anyone when I joined the training but it was very easy for all of us to become a family. Laughter’s and bonding together is priceless. Spending and enjoying time together was great, it took away all our worries in life. Helping each other whilst on the training is a great example of a strong woman power! You are not just friends for me but also my new family. I felt at home and I never felt homesick because everyone was so kind and a true person. Our happy memories will remain forever, and I am looking forward to more and seeing  you again in the near future. I would love to be part of your mission again. 

Again, thank you all for the successful training and for sharing your specialty with us!

Love you all and see you all again next year. Have a safe journey back home!!